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Saudi Arabia emerges to challenge Chinese dominance – Asian Juniors

The eleventh edition of the Asian Junior Championships concluded at Ipoh, Malaysia yesterday. The four days of competition witnessed the emergence of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a new regional super power in athletics as their junior men garnered 6 gold, 4 silver and 4 bronze medals.

Notwithstanding the Peoples Republic of China took the top spot with a massive 16 gold, 11 silver and 10 bronze medals - richly contributed by their junior women - the Saudi Arabians grabbed the limelight with Yahya Al Gahes becoming the fastest man of the meet (100m). The Saudi’s also took both the men’s Hurdles races, and also the 400m, Triple Jump and 4x100m relay golds.

Japan’s Fumi Mitsumura walked away to a new Asian junior mark in 10,000m walk in a time of 46:58.96, which added to their tally of 5 gold, 6 silver and 8 bronze medals.

Qatar’s Moussa Omar Obaid took double gold by winning the 10,000m and 3000m steeplechase - the latter with a record of 8:33.39 while his team-mate Moustafa Ahmed Shebto took the gold in 5000m with another fine 14:14.65. Shebto won the silver in steeplechase behind Obaid.

Chinese athletes also lowered the meet records in several events including the men’s High Jump (2.23m, Liu Yang), and their sprinter Wenshan Weng claimed the women’s 100m in style for a 1-2 finish with compatriot Zhou Yingting.